The fresh scent of the sunrise dew sealed her with a joyous zeal as she deeply inhaled the refreshing air, trying to intake as much freshness her lungs could take. The warmness of the ceramic cup heated her freezing hands as Samantha wrapped her thin fingers around it. The street outside her house wasn't in any way empty, she could get a glimpse of the young boys and girls cycling their way towards their school, some had a smile on their callow faces while others seemed to be bored- not wanting to squander their time memorising inefficacious things instead they wanted to explore the real world outside. Dr Wright was never a very athletic student herself, she never learned to ride a bicycle and her parents never asked her to, they were always wary that she was never near any sort of danger for her body could afford no further damage than it had already sustained. Sam remembered how her parents used to rush her to the hospital even when she was hurt even to the slightest. It was not because they were paranoic in any way but because they weren't ready to compromise with her health in any way. Seeing her falling from the grip of the metal arms of Dr Otto Octavius surely gave her father nightmares for he had already lost his daughter once, surely it was for a few minutes only but it surely was the most horrendous experience for Sharon and Dalton and both of them feared going through that experience again.
"I brought you some breakfast dear." A soothing voice filled her ears, diverting her attention away from the bird she had been gaping at for the past few moments. It was her father who had a tray in his hand, placing it near his daughter's study desk Dalton walked up to her.
"Someone has come to pay you a little visit." He told as he took her hands in his own, passing her a benevolent smile.
"What do you mean by a small visit, I am staying here till she is feeling good again." An animated tone made itself heard causing Samantha to turn to look at the door of her room by which stood a handsome old woman. The surgeon's face gleamed at the sight of her mother, sprinting towards her she pulled the old woman in a tight embrace.
"Good god, you are fine or I would have killed that crazy scientist for sure." Whispered Sharon her voice muffled in the hairs of her daughter as she planted a kiss on the young woman's cheek.
Another heavy sigh left Dr Wright lips on hearing yet another death threat for the man who hadn't been much of a threat to her, opting not to speak Sam pulled apart from the embrace.
"What are you doing here, mom?" Asked the doctor, realizing it wasn't a Tuesday or Thursday- the days she used to visit for dinners.
"Oh, please don't act like that Doctor Octopus didn't throw you from the building and that you don't know why I am here, Sam." Reacted the older woman, acting as if her daughter's question had offended her. Sharon had a bit of drama left in her even after the years of leaving the stage, she had been a theatre student during her time at school and college but she never thought of it as a career instead she studied architecture and went on to become a successful one in her field.
"So you also think he threw me off the building?" Asked Sam, sinking on her bed with the tray of breakfast with her. She could foresee that this conversation wasn't going to be a momentary one.
"What do you mean he didn't throw you off that building?" Contested Sharon, not being able to understand what her daughter was implying.
"She believes that Octopus did not throw her instead it was the attack from the flying monk which loosened the grip of his metal thingy from around her." Intruded Dalton, as he was leaning against the oak bookshelf. Two days had passed since the accident and the old man still refused to believe the reasoning his daughter presented in front of him.
"Was she hit on the head while that happened?" Requested Sharon, passing her daughter a look of utter scepticism.
"No, I also thought that at first but our daughter isn't able to find a single flaw in what that metal armed man did. I know why you feel sympathetic for that scientist and I am not saying it's not wrong but you can't ignore what he did to you either." Responded the old man. He loved his daughter immensely but Dalton couldn't help but notice her empathy for the criminal which the old man believed he did not deserve.
"I agree, he was wrong in taking me hostage but the whole situation started with the reporter double-crossing him and then the Skrull attacked him for no apparent reason." Said Samantha, frustration hinting in her voice as she tried keeping herself calm.
"Dalton, call the psychiatrist, I think she needs some help." Announced the architect, her eyes fixed upon her daughter with eyes sealed with concern.
"I appreciate your concern but for God's sake I am not suffering from Stockholm Syndrome." Said the surgeon suppressing the urge in her to tell them about the encounter she had with Dr Otto Octavius at the hospital but she was obliged not to. Sam couldn't let anyone know about the night she slept on the notorious villain's shoulder. His presence had consoled her in a bewildering way and she had no desire to explain it to even herself because the more the supervillain bewitched her the more trouble she found herself in.
"Fine, we won't force you to do anything." Declared Dalton sensing the frustration his only daughter was feeling. Passing her a reassuring smile the old man decided to not let others bother his little Sam anymore not even her mother.
*
The air was moist and frigid but not unwelcoming that evening when Dr Wright had decided to use her forced holiday to treat herself with some reclusive moments. Not being loaded by work gifted her a few moments of freedom she was striving for. In between the compact hours of operations and attending the patients she was forced to squeeze time for emergency operations too if the other surgeon failed to operate propitiously. But she never blamed anyone for that, it was her decision to add the profile of a trauma surgeon to her resume after already becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon and that too a flourishing one. The work and family left her little to no time to spend on herself, she had no significant other or anyone she liked. Mostly it was books and movies in whose company she found herself after the long days of work. Samantha never accused anyone of showing no interest in her for she knew she was the one to be blamed. A relationship required time and care that she lacked. In her life of thirty-six years, she had never crossed paths with a person she genuinely felt attached to except for the two people who were there even when she wasn't there for them- her parents. But now she found someone who was residing in her thoughts and that was the very person who shouldn't be there- Dr Otto Octavius, the infamous villain of New York City.
The sweltering air felt good against her skin as the doctor ambled idly on the cemented pavement for she wasn't able to relax at home. Sam was given two days off by the chief of medicine- James Miller of Summerstone hospital where she worked, they felt she needed a break from work after the 'trauma' of being kidnapped by a supervillain. She denied but they felt they knew what was right for her better than Sam herself. So here she was leisurely walking by her herself near the harbour no one dared to go in the proximity of. The whole city believed it to be radioactive but she knew it wasn't, there hadn't been a single case reported of a disease caused by radioactivity. Her father was not very keen on the idea of her going for a walk by herself for Dalton feared that mad scientists would again try to hurt his daughter but she managed to persuade him.
The harbour was empty and it made her feel relieved for there were no eyes fixed upon her, no one asked her about Doc Ock or the Black Skrull. The Daily Bugle hadn't been kind to her or Dr Octavius, while they questioned his morals like they did every time they wrote about him but they were also questioning her for not making a hateful statement against the supervillain.
Pushing away from the thought of the brilliant scientist Samantha sighed deeply, still confused on what was she supposed to feel towards the doctor- hatred that everyone expected her to feel or the empathy her heart was feeling for him. The aimless walking brought her near the region where the land ended and the furious waves of ocean shattered against the cemented wall. With a peculiar feeling residing in her heart, Sam chose to sit there for a few moments with a determination to clear her heart and thoughts about the mad but brilliant Dr Otto Octavius. The floor was cold but it failed to bother Samantha who was enjoying her own company after a long time.
The sound of ocean waves colliding against the wall beneath her filled her heart with tranquillity, she couldn't feel even a hint of worry or anger in her. The fragile tranquillity of the moment was broken by the deep voice- a voice she had heard before.
"Someone isn't convinced by the myth of radioactivity." The voice announced the presence of the intruder, the masculine voice's dipped with mirth.
Samantha was caught unguarded by the sudden intrusion in her solitude which forced a gasp to escape her lips, turning to face the possessor of the voice she was greeted with the sight of a tall man, a heavy trench coat hanging by his shoulders, his eyes were hiding behind the shades he was wearing but the thing which captured her attention was the serpent-like motion of the metal appendages behind him. It took a few seconds for her sharp mind to acknowledge who was standing in her proximity- he was the infamous scientist Otto Octavius whose thought she failed to throw out of her mind.
"Oh god! Please don't kidnap me this time!" cried Dr Wright as she tried to decrease the proximity between the supervillain and herself. A look of horror covered her face as she found it hard to breathe. Samantha was not scared of the Doctor but she couldn't help but feel afraid of his metal arms which had almost slain her. Although, Sam was not sure if the scientist could be blamed for it wasn't entirely his fault.
Otto felt astonished by the sight of an intruder in the solitary confinement of his harbour and the area around it for most people were cautious not to wander around this place even by accident. The mad scientist had observed the woman strolling around from his harbour, she appeared relaxed and naive as if she was aware that the myths about this place were false. It was this demeanour of her that forced the infamous villain to go and talk to her and so here he was. Seeing her sitting looking content with herself forced Otto to walk on his feet, he did not want to alarm her away but his sight has surely filled her with fear. It wasn't before this moment that Otto could lay eyes on her face but when it did, it took his brilliant mind no time to realize she was not some wayfarer, she was the woman he owed an apology to for what he did to her had drowned him with guilt.
Otto hated himself for he wasn't able to save her that day and that he flew like a coward when the Skrull saved her. He had not felt like that ever in his life, he had hurt people consciously but never once did he feel remorseful but seeing this woman falling to her death had made him question the little morality left in him. If Samantha would have died- Otto would have blamed himself for that and he wasn't sure if he could have lived with that guilt.
Seeing her terrified Otto spoke softly trying to reassure her-
"I am sorry for what happened that day." The mad scientist's soothing voice filled Sam's ears which relaxed her throbbing heart. The man towering over her lacked the threatening demeanour he usually carried with himself.
"I know you will never forgive me for what I did to you and I believe you have every right to feel that way." Spoke Otto as he took off the dark shades with a belief that his eyes might convey his apology better than his words. He hated the fact that the only woman who cared to know his side of the story was now scared of him. "I promise I am not going to hurt you, Dr Wright." He added trying to soothe as he took a small step towards her.
"I don't blame you for what happened, I was there and I saw that it was an accident. I-its just that..." The words left her lips in no more than mere breathless whispers. But Sam did not try to increase the proximity between them this time, she stayed there on the ground trying to comprehend the situation she was in.
The mad scientist felt bad for the sweet woman in front of him who still refused to judge him even after what he did to her. Otto extended his hand towards the doctor for her to take. His courteous mannerism earned him a look of utter scepticism from Dr Wright who found it hard to believe what her eyes saw and her brain comprehended. This brilliant but corrupt scientist was becoming more inscrutable with every encounter she had with him. First, she finds him injured and bleeding the other time he kidnaps her and almost gets her killed and now there he was apologizing. The surgeon gather the courage to speak as she looked up into the eyes of the metal armed scientist.
"Can you promise me one thing?" She spoke, it was the first time ever since they had met this evening that Otto heard her refined voice as it was, not masked by any emotion.
"If it makes you feel better." Said the supervillain, his brown eyes fixed upon that of the surgeon.
"Please never ever in any circumstance hold me with those metal arms of yours." Spoke Dr Wright as her eyes shifted from the face of the scientist to the metal appendage which hissed at her for the statement she had made.
A small chuckle left Otto's lips on listening to the statement, he was expecting a plea of staying away from her but all she asked him was to not hold her with the tentacles. To him, it felt as if she wasn't afraid of him being in her proximity and that thought imbued a funny feeling in his heart. He was pulled out of the ocean of thoughts he was drowning in by the refined voice of the surgeon.
"Apologies, I did not desire to offend you in any way but the way I felt when I was falling was dreadful. It brought back memories of the time I never want to remember." Spoke Sam unknowingly.
"Does height scares you?" Innocently asked the mad scientist as he kneeled on the cold pavement next to her.
"Well I am not exactly scared of height but if you are suspended high above the ground by metal arms of a brilliant scientist, it not exactly something that pleases you." Responded Sam. The dying daylight fell on her face defining her features, the supervillain couldn't help but notice how distinctive features was from anyone he had crossed paths with. "When I was falling, all I could think was what if I die when my body will hit the concrete floor. I would have lost everything again." Continued the doctor in the same tone, she appeared to be lost in her own thoughts, not even realizing she was letting out her heart's feeling in front of the mad scientist whose presence felt warm and right to her heart.
"Again?" Questioned the man with four metal arms, his tone soft and warm. Otto didn't want to startle the woman.
The question struck Samantha with the realization that she had spoken a lot more than she should have but it was the mad scientist's company that soothed her. Looking up at his face her black eyes met his brown one as she spoke-
"You can say when I was a little I had an encounter that I wish I never had." Replied Dr Wright as the single tear ran down her cheek which managed to escape the captivity of her eyes as the memories of that encounter came running back to her. Samantha felt a stone-cold thing caressing her cheek lightly, it was one of the dangerous tentacles which had wiped her tear. The touch of the metal arm was as gentle on her as it had been for Dr Octavius. The supervillain saw the appendage attached to his body gently doing what he desired to do but he was scared his touch might have bothered her so he commanded the army to fulfil his desire. The gentle act forced Sam to look away from the face of the mad scientist which she found to be handsome.
A long moment of silence followed both the doctors were oblivious of what was to be said but either wasn't keen to leave the others company either.
"You said you wanted the world to know something about your past. What was it?" Dr Wright's voice broke the fragile silence forcing Otto to look back at her. The mad scientist was left startled by her unexpected question.
"You wouldn't like my past." Commented the mad scientist as he sat beside her, gazing at the sun sinking into the horizon.
"How can you say that without telling me about it. And don't forget I was the only one who refused to run away from you." Said Sam as she turned to face him. It was the first time ever since they had met that the surgeon noticed how he was nothing like The Daily Bugle had portrayed him. He was surely menacing when he wanted to be but he also had a sincere and compassionate side to him which he kept hidden beneath the persona of Doc Ock.
"It was ten years ago, I can still remember that dreadful day that should have never occurred." Spoke the man with four metal arms, his tone had determination in it but he lacked the courage to face the surgeon who sat beside him. "The Government was too keen to fund my fusion reactor, they wanted to keep the self-sustaining never-ending fuel to them and charge highly for energy in the coming few years when there would be a lack of resources to generate energy. I was happy to use my privilege of intelligence to do something for the betterment of the world. And then the accident happened, a power spike destabilized the fusion reactor. I lost my wife, my dreams and a reason to live that day." He continued but his voice refused to leave his throat on the recollection of those memories, his whole life shattered in front of his eyes that day.
For a long moment, Otto did not speak and Sam did not ask him to either, she knew what it felt like to lose everything, all because of the accident.
In the moment of remorse, the mad scientist felt a hand on his shoulder squeezing it gently. It was the doctor who was passing him a reassuring smile.
"The accident infused these arms to my spinal cord, we are codependent on each other for existence. When the government got the information they decided to put me use for their own benefit. They wanted me to become an assassin for them, do their dirty work so they don't have to cover their hands with filth. I refused so they tried to implant an inhibitor chip in my brain so they could control my neural impulses and manipulate my action but I managed to escape. Although, I won't say I am a victim whatever I did after that was a choice of my arms and mine." Spoke the mad scientist as he stared into the space beyond.
"No one can be entirely right. You had your part of sorrows and sins but maybe life has something better planned for you now. You can be good again, you can find happiness in this world again but only if you will try, Dr Octavius." Dr Wright's voice resonated in the supervillain's ears causing him to look at her. Her light hand was still placed on his shoulder, her eyes fixed upon his face, her eyes looked as if they were contemplating his soul.
"You think a monster like me can find happiness again?" Asked Otto innocently as he struggled to look her into the eyes.
"Just because a newspaper calls you so that makes you a monster Doctor. You are a brilliant man who had a lot to him other than these metal arms. You can find anything in this world only when you will start looking for it." Came a calm reply from the surgeon who refused to call the man sitting before her a monster he was not.
The supervillain was left speechless from what he heard, the doctor sitting in front of him was asking him to give life which had left him with nothing, a second chance.
No more words were spoken between the two as they both stayed that way on the cold cemented ground for a long time enjoying each other's company in silence before Dr Wright's eyes fell upon her watch, it was getting late and she needed to home before her father would start worrying.
"I think I should leave." Spoke Sam. Otto's metal tentacles lifted his body with ease, helping him stand but the surgeon's body felt numb from sitting on the cold floor too long. The mad scientist offered her his hand again this time the doctor did take his gloved hand but she did not hesitate this time. Otto's skin beneath the leather glove could feel the thin fingers pressed against his hand, her touch infused an unexplainable feeling in his heart.
With a heavy sight, Samantha forced herself to leave the company of the supervillain, stepping away she turned to walk off only to realize her hand was still in the scientists. Pulling back her hand the surgeon started walking away only to hear the voice of Dr Otto Octavius.
"Thank you."
"For what?" Asked Sam as she passed him a confused look, she genuinely wasn't aware of the reason for his gratitude.
"For not doing what others did. Judge me." Answered Otto as he passes her a sweet smile. He wanted to show her gratitude to her ever since the day she saved him from dying but all he did was bring back those dreadful memories of her she wanted to forget.
"I couldn't have judged you before knowing your side of the story. And judging people is not my cup of tea." Said the doctor passing the mad scientist a sympathetic smile.
Without another word, Dr Wright walked off with a hefty feeling taking over her heart. Otto too, felt the heavy feeling creeping in his heart as he saw the figure of Dr Samantha Wright vanish around the corner of the bricked building.
ns 15.158.61.54da2
